Chapter 28: It's Over
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Well, this is the end of what was supposed to be a short story. I have no idea how it came to be a 28-chapter story, but my muse does that to me sometimes. I could go on and on, but I am stopping it here. I am taking a break from writing for a while and don't want to leave yet one more story hanging when I can close it.
It's a short one.
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Harry took his OWLs the following week and passed them all. He knew he could do it, he could have done it ages ago, but he wanted to go to Hogwarts to be with his friends. That and for some reason the ministry felt that you had to be in your fifth year to take the exams. His scores were above most, though he still didn't pass Snape in potions.
He took his results to the headmaster's office with Sirius in tow.
Headmaster Baker was there with McGonagall. She had been asked to join so that she could see that he was not lying and that he had every right to leave the school. She had been making noise that the boy was just trying to get attention again.
"As you can see, I passed my OWLs, so I will be leaving the school," Harry told the new man. He sneered at McGonagall while she looked at him with a distasteful look. She was still being a bitch to him about how he had shunned Dumbledore's funeral.
"Yes, I can see that, and I am sorry that it has come to this," Baker said, flipping through the parchments reading the scores. He had a pair of reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose. They were the type that you could fold up and put in your pocket when you didn't need them. There were no arms on them, just thick lenses and a nose piece.
Minerva was standing behind him with her lips pursed in a thin line. She knew that Dumbledore wanted Harry Potter to graduate from Hogwarts, and that he wanted the boy here in case the Dark Lord came back. She wasn't sure that the vile man was dead or not, but she was more inclined to take her old friend's word over the boy's. Harry Potter had been known to lie to her. Then again, so had Albus. Still, Albus usually had a very good reason to withhold the truth when he did so.
"Harry, my boy, you cannot leave the safety of the school," Albus's portrait said, a hint of desperation in his tone. "Voldemort is not dead," he added again. He was still telling anyone and everyone that old yarn.
"Bugger off, Albus," Sirius said, not even looking at the painting. "I killed that man, and he is not coming back," he said, still looking at Baker. "I promise you, Headmaster Baker, Dumbledore doesn't know what he's talking about." He looked at the new man with such a look that the man took him at his word.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, your input was not asked for," Baker stated, giving a put-upon sigh. "He has been giving me unwanted advice since I got here. Was he always like that?" the man asked Sirius, making McGonagall gasp in shock. There was a look of exasperation on his face, like he was on his last wit.
"Yes," was the ready answer, causing Harry to chuckle.
"Headmaster Baker, I will ask that you refrain from talking about my deceased friend in that manner," McGonagall snapped. She looked like she was ready to hit the man upside the head like a wayward child.
"He's a menace," the kindly man stated in an unkind manner, putting Harry's test results down and turning his attention to said teen. "These seem to be in order. Will you be finishing out the term or leaving now?" he asked with a resigned tone. He wanted Harry to stay if only because he was a well-known figure. To have such a prestigious person in the school was a boon. To see him go was a blight on the school. Others might take it that the school was at fault, which it was, but there was little Baker could do about it.
"Now," Harry said quickly. He glared at the deputy headmistress. "I just want shot of this school." He didn't care if the school took a hit, he wanted gone.
"Once again, I am sorry to see you go," Baker stated, standing and holding out his hand to the two males sitting across from him. He pasted a smile on his face and made out like he was happy for them. "Your parchment work is all in order, you can go now," he added with a sad smile.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this," Sirius said, taking his hand and shaking it. "Harry has done his best to try to make it work, but he has had enough," he added, looking at Harry and sighing.
"I'm sorry too," Harry said, shaking the man's hand next. He shot another glare at McGonagall, who was still pursing her lips at them.
Dumbledore was still pleading with them, but he was being ignored.
With that Harry and Sirius turned and left. Dobby would get Harry's things, so they just left the castle and went to Grimmauld Place. Harry had already said his goodbyes, so there was no need to do that. He would come and visit on Hogsmeade weekends. He had promised Hermione and Neville that much, even little Luna. Padma said that she'd drop by and say hi, but they were just friends now.
That hurt Harry a bit, he thought they were tighter than that, but he guessed she just wanted a clean break. Oh well, there were plenty of other girls out there. Maybe he and Luna could get together, when she grew up a bit more. She was a nice girl, if a bit flighty.
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Snape didn't disappear; he was approached by a mysterious benefactor. The man who approached him gave him the name of Mr. White, and he was dressed like a muggle. He didn't live in the wizarding world but was well versed on what was happening in that world. He said that he knew what had happened to Snape and felt that he had had a bad cop and wanted to help him out. Snape thought it was shady, but he needed the help. The contract that they made was only beneficial to Snape, and there were no loopholes in it, so Snape took it and ran.
He was given money to open an apothecary. He was told it was because he was the youngest potions master of the century, and they wanted him to be the best. So, he was given funds to run a business just inside Knockturn Alley. It was close enough to the entrance that even Molly Weasley would venture there for the prices, which were better than anything in Diagon Alley.
On his opening day, he was visited by Sirius Black and Harry Potter. That of course drew a crowd, which was good business for him. Not that he had to like it, but there it was.
"What do you want, Black?" he asked with a sneer. They were standing in the middle of the newly opened store. Everyone there was trying to look like they weren't eavesdropping, but it was obvious that they were.
Snape had dressed up for his opening. He wasn't dressed like he had during his tenure at Hogwarts. He was dressed in slacks, a white button down, and a purple open-faced robe. His hair was washed and combed to perfection. He had had his teeth fixed and cleaned. He looked much better than he did in the classroom. He was hoping to be a better public face.
"Just coming to see what you're up to," Sirius said, looking around the well-appointed shop. It was well organized and well-lit, and everything was spaced to its top efficiency. There was nothing out of place there. It was mostly done in glass and metal, which was weird in the wizarding world, but Snape pulled it off really well. With his new looks, and this new store, he might just make it.
"What? Are you afraid I'm selling something illegal? I am not a fool," the bitter man stated, looking around his store at all the healing and beauty products. There was nothing there that could be labeled as Dark. It was all on the up and up.
"Well, you are set up in Knockturn Alley," Harry pointed out. He too looked around, like he could spot something out of place. He was disappointed to see that it was all good. He would have liked to have seen something that would have closed the store down. Well, maybe not. If Snape could make a go of it, then maybe they could use him later down the road. All they had to do was just steer clear of the man.
"The rent is cheaper here," Snape sneered. And it was too. The rent in Diagon Alley was outrageous. It was thrice the amount there as it was here. His benefactor was a good person, for all he knew of him, but he wasn't going to take advantage of him. That and that meant more money for him.
"So, you don't have a backroom for some of the more… lucrative potions?" Sirius asked, peeking around the counter. There was a curtained off section behind the counter, which could be hiding something. It was probably where Snape brewed, or where his flat was, but it could be something else.
"If I did, do you think I would tell you?" Snape asked, looking at him like he was an idiot.
"Probably not," Sirius conceded. He really didn't want to know anyway. He didn't even know why he and Harry were here to begin with, but Harry wanted to be here.
"Snape, I just wanted to let you know that I am glad that you didn't go to prison," Harry said, picking up a jar of zit cream. He put it back down and picked up some dry skin lotion. "I also wanted to let you know that any debt you feel that you owe me is null and void," he added, not looking at the man. Sure, he didn't want the man in Britain, but he didn't want him in prison either.
"Why do you say that?" the dour man asked, taking the lotion from the teen and steering him from the shelves. He didn't want the brat to break anything.
"You put your life on the line during the war. I feel you've done enough. I think we should be shot of one another. I don't want you in my life in any capacity, and I'm sure you want me out of yours as well," the Boy-Who-Lived stated, finally looking at the potions master. His eyes were earnest, showing that he really meant what he was saying.
"You are correct, I want 'shot' of you," Snape said, looking at Sirius to see if he was going to offer the same get out.
"Nope, you still owe me one. I'm not letting you off that easy," Sirius said, shaking his head. "I'm going to hold it over your head for a long time," he added with a shit-eating grin. He planned on making the man's life a living hell now that he decided to stay here in Britain. He still hated Snape, and he wasn't going to get over those feelings anytime soon.
"Of course you would," Severus groaned. His feelings for Black were mixed. He owed the man, but he still loathed him. He was losing sleep over it, and it was making him irritable. He wasn't going to show it though, he was Slytherin after all. He then ushered the two out of his shop, leaving him to deal with his customers, which were plenty. He might not be well liked, but he was respected as a potions master. He was just hoping this was a new beginning.
Harry and Sirius left the store and went home. They discussed what they were going to do about Snape and decided that they were just going to leave him be for now. Sirius might drop by now and then, just to bug the hell out of him, but other than that, nothing.
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Many months passed and Tonks's training was going well. She was a natural spy. She could fade into any background and had already infiltrated #10 Downing Street a few times and the Royal Palace twice. She learned that both knew and didn't like the magical world, but didn't have plans on doing anything about them. She learned that they did have back-up plans if the magical world ever tried to take over the muggle world, but they didn't have plans to infiltrate the magical world anytime soon. She knew that the Queen was the last word when it came to them, but that She wasn't planning anything nefarious to them.
This gave Amelia some breathing room and something to take to the Wizengamot. It also got her more budgeting for that department. She got a few more agents to train. Bugger Fudge. He was seen as a tightwad and was getting less and less respect from everyone.
Tonks couldn't get near the muggleborn mafia though. Every time she tried, she was turned away. Once she was even threatened with bodily harm. They were just too tightly organized. They knew everything about their area. They weren't lying when they said they knew every homeless person and tenant in their neighborhood. She tried to be a bum in the neighborhood, but they sussed her out immediately and drove her off.
"Sorry, boss, I couldn't get near them," she said, sitting sadly in the chair in front of Amelia's desk. Her hair was cycling, all depressed colors, blues, purples, and blacks. It was quite a sad sight to see.
"I know," and equally depressed Bones stated, plucking a quill from her pen cup. "It was a long shot. The man who came to my office had warned me off. So, we're going to have to use your talents for something closer to home. I need you to get me the dirt on Fudge. I want him out of office," she said, sitting up straighter. "We can have you posing as different members of the Wizengamot and you can get the skinny on him," she said, making mental notes on what she wanted her to ask the man. She started jotting a few of them down.
"Yeah, I can do that," Tonks said with a lackluster tone. She was still upset that she couldn't do what she had been training to do. She had been looking forward to going undercover in the mafia. It had been playing on her mind for months. She had had scenes played out on how she was going to infiltrate the organization and how she alone was going to bring it to its knees. It was going to be a career move for her. It really upset her that she couldn't do it.
"Cheer up, Tonks, you did nothing wrong. Those muggleborn are leaving us alone for now, so we'll back off. If they set foot out of line, then we'll readdress this project," Bones said, giving her an encouraging smile. She knew it was a dead cause, they wouldn't get anyone in. She would keep an eye on the mafia, and arrest anyone that breaks the law in the magical world. She couldn't touch them in the muggle world, but in the magical world, she was the law.
"I know," the pink-haired woman said, sitting up a bit straighter. "I'll get what you need on Fudge. I don't want him in office any more than you do," she said, meaning every word. She knew the man was an idiot and needed to be ousted.
"Have you heard from your friend Lupin?" Amelia asked, wondering if that might be what had the girl down. That werewolf seemed to affect her more than any other man in her life.
"No, not for months now," Tonks said, tilting her head to the side as if she was wondering why she hadn't thought of Remus in that long. Not since he left her home all those months ago. She really hadn't thought about him. She wondered now what happened to him. She would have to ask Sirius, but she didn't think he'd know either.
"Oh," was all Amelia said and then she changed the subject. They talked about work a little more and then Tonks left.
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More time passed and Sirius and Harry were living the good life. They were using their money to make the wizarding world a better place. They were investing in the businesses in Diagon Alley and some in Knockturn Alley. They were making repairs, adding to inventory, and generally just helping out the owners in any way that was needed with well placed loans and investments. This was causing more people to come to the Alleys and spend more money, which boosted the economy.
Harry bought up some of the buildings and created some flats for the younger generation, and one for the elderly. Most of those with families wanted houses, so he created a town near Ottery St Catchpole, since so many magicals already lived near there. It was a small town, but there were enough for fifty families to live comfortably. It was well warded from the prying eyes of the muggles.
He and Sirius took the Wizengamot by storm. They were loud voices in the meetings and argued over everything they believed in. If it had to do with equal rights, they were right there in the thick of it and they encouraged anyone with a vote to do the same. Those that were quiet before, were encouraged to stand and fight now. They didn't take no for an answer. Many of the old crowd didn't like these young whippersnappers. They were making a ruckus.
They had no qualms throwing their money around either. They were the richest men in the wizarding world. Not that they bought votes, but they did by incentives. It was because of them that Fudge was finally thrown out of office, with the help of Tonks and her undercover abilities.
"Well, Harry, you finally got everything done that you wanted to do. How are you feeling now?" Sirius asked one day when they sat after a Wizengamot meeting. They had just passed a law that stated that all people were to be treated equally. It was a near thing and only passed with a few votes, but they got it passed.
"It was a hard road, but I'm glad I stuck it out. With you and my friends by my side, it made it much easier," Harry said, lifting his butterbeer in a cheers motion. They were sitting at Grimmauld Place and drinking in one of the sitting rooms.
Sirius matched him with his firewhiskey. "You're family. Of course I would do that," he said, taking a drink. "You taught me that family was important. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that. You are so much younger than me," he admitted, looking abashed.
"Well, if it wasn't for Mom and Dad, I would have been in a bad place in my life. Who knows what would have happened if they hadn't drawn me into the grey space. The teachers I had there taught me so much that I just had to pass it on. I love you and my friends with all my heart. I will find a woman one day who will love me just as much," Harry declared, looking at the ceiling with a vacant face. He was still thinking about his future. He wanted a big family, but he didn't want to rush into it. He didn't want to make a mistake.
"I'm sure you will, Harry. There's no rush," Sirius said, echoing his thoughts.
"What about you, Sirius? Any plans on finding your lady love?" was Harry's question.
"I'm not in any hurry. Azkaban really messed me up mentally. I'm better now, but… well, I need my space, you know?" the dogman said, taking sip of his liquor.
"I get you," Harry said, knowing he could heal his godfather physically, but not mentally. There were just some things magic couldn't do. Sirius was going to have to work it out himself or seek help in the muggle world. He knew there was help there.
"Any more plans on making money?" Sirius asked, suddenly.
"Nope, I've run dry on investment ideas. Besides, I think we've got good ones now," the boy wonder said, knowing what they had would be bringing them money for years to come.
"Good, good," the dark-haired man stated.
"Have you heard from Lupin?" Harry asked, looking at him inquiringly. He had been wondering what happened to the werewolf.
"He's in the USA," Sirius said with a shrug. Remus had written to him to apologize and tell him that he was in the United States of America and that he was going to stay there. He was done with Britain and didn't want anything to do with anyone here.
"What's he doing there?" Harry asked, flabbergasted.
"Running away from his problems like always," grumbled Sirius.
"Fucking Remus, doesn't he know that being around family is best?" Harry said, glaring at a wall.
"Well, maybe he'll find a new family here. You taught me that not all family is blood," Sirius said, not giving a damn what Remus did now.
"That's right," Harry said, taking another sip of his butterbeer. "And I've got the best family yet." He, Hermione and Neville were as tight as ever. They had spent a lot of time together during Hogsmeade weekends with Luna. They were spending their days together now that summer was upon them. He did spend a lot of time with Luna in a different way, but he didn't want to rush it. She was a good girl, and he didn't want to scare her off.
"That you do, Harry, that you do."
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If I didn't address something, besides romance, let me know and I'll come back and add it. If I feel it's important.